The day that Microsoft saved Apple
Video: Macworld Boston 1997-The Microsoft Deal [12:05 min]
This is the kind of stories I like to publish on weekends, because they bring one to ponder.
12 years ago, a few months after the return of Steve Jobs to Apple, the economic situation of the manzanita was quite precarious and the return of Jobs at the helm, who earlier had been fired was the largest show how desperate was the board of directors of Apple. But that was not any surprise, we were all shocked when the August 6, 1997, attendees enjoyed the keynote by Steve Jobs in Boston, and suddenly saw the face of the arch-natural enemy of Apple, then the CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates, mirándoles from a video screen via video conference.
At that time, many of those present thought it was some kind of joke, but it was then that Bill Gates revealed that his company (Microsoft) had made an investment of $ 150 million in Apple shares without voting rights, a investment that would perhaps help to secure the future of the signing of the apple.
In exchange for that money and a commitment to support Office for Mac for five years, Apple has agreed to abandon a long process of claim in alleging that Microsoft had copied the look and design of the Mac OS on Windows (maybe things was true, but the result was obviously not the best) and undertook to make Internet Explorer the default browser on their computers (leaving the traditional Netscape). Some say that the agreement included more than two parties, but that is the subject of another post.
Sighs of shock came from the audience, while Jobs said, “We must abandon some notions at this time. We must stop thinking that if Apple wins, Microsoft has to lose. “
